Many websites use SEO, but is there anything else out there that could make your SERP rise? Backlinks, Pageranks, etc etc is becomming old. There is probably something out there that can make it rise too, apart from SEO.
Nope, it's all about your content, and your backlinks. nothing more nothing less. at least as far as i know
Ask Google to always show your site on top!!! Alternative technique - as other Gurus have figured out how the Google Algo works - current techniques work just fine.
If you're talking about tricks I dont think that would be a good option. Some of my site ranks in top 10 in SERP for my major keywords and basic SEO will be the best you can do to rank in higher in SERP.
In the end, there is only so much SEO that you can do... and when you do, your competition will probably copy your techniques... Really, time spent(investment) getting the links and writing copy and content seems like the best differentiating factor amongst most high ranking sites.